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Posted on: March 8, 2016

Cedarhurst Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Apartment Arson

Douglas Drummond set eight separate fires in his apartment that he shared with two other roommates

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Cedarhurst man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for setting his apartment on fire on the day he was slated to be evicted.

Douglas Drummond, 54, pleaded guilty on Nov. 24 before Court of Claims Judge Philip Grella to one count of Arson in the 2nd Degree (a B violent felony). Judge Grella sentenced the defendant to eight years in prison, with three years of post-supervision, and issued two stay away orders of protection for Drummond’s former roommates. The defendant is also required to pay $2,004 in restitution as a civil judgment.

“This defendant recklessly endangered the lives of everyone who lived in that apartment building when he set eight separate fires that day,” DA Singas said. “Drummond also jeopardized the lives of first responders who answered the call of duty and extinguished the fire before anyone was seriously injured.”

DA Singas said at approximately 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2015, the defendant – who was slated for eviction that day – lit eight separate fires in the unit he shared with two roommates. The defendant taped the front door to the apartment shut and lit paper and clothes in both of his roommates’ rooms as well as set fire to curtains, a closet and threw more clothing on the lit oven in the kitchen. When the smoke and fire became too much, the defendant ran to the bathroom and called out the window for help. The building was evacuated due to the fire.

The Lawrence Cedarhurst Fire Department responded to the blaze, rescued the defendant and extinguished the fire. The apartment was destroyed and other units in the building, which had approximately 57 units, suffered from water damage.

The defendant was transported to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation and was arrested by the Nassau County Police Department.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Brand of DA Singas’ County Court Trial Bureau is prosecuting the case. Drummond is represented by William Kephart, Esq.